12/15/10

You don't have to be stupid to watch Fox News, because -- if you watch it long enough -- Fox News will make you stupid enough to watch it. Those are the findings of a new Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland study that shows that Fox viewers are mentally helpless and permanently bewildered.

According to the report, the university "conducted a survey of American voters that shows that Fox News viewers are significantly more misinformed than consumers of news from other sources. What s more, the study shows that greater exposure to Fox News increases misinformation... So the more you watch, the less you know. Or to be precise, the more you think you know that is actually false."

Asked about nine facts, Fox viewers led in giving the wrong answer to eight of them. The study found:

-91% believe that the stimulus legislation lost jobs.-72% believe that the health reform law will increase the deficit.-72% believe that the economy is getting worse.-60% believe that climate change is not occurring.-49% believe that income taxes have gone up.-63% believe that the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts.-56% believe that Obama initiated the GM/Chrysler bailout.-38% believe that most Republicans opposed TARP.-63% believe that Obama was not born in the US (or that it is unclear).

That's right, 63% of Fox viewers are birthers -- or, at least, birther-lite. Fox always scores at the bottom of these studies, making it the worst cable news network ever. At least, in terms of delivering actual news; they're pretty good at selling you junk.

If someone you know is watching Fox News, stage an intervention. Because if they keep watching it, sooner or later they're going to be too stupid to dress themselves. Maybe you can convince them to take up drinking or heroin instead, because both are better for your brain. (News Corpse)

-Do as we say, not as we do-GOP Senators John Thune and John Cornyn held a press conference today to tell America that they both hate earmarks so much! At issue was an omnibus bill (a bunch of unfinished business due to Republican obstructionism) that Democrats filled with wasteful commie pork!

It didn't go well:

"The bill contains many earmarks that you requested," said one reporter, starting the Q&A.

"Pardon me?" said Cornyn.

"I intend to vote against those earmarks because the American people sent a message on November 2nd," said the Texas Republican.

"Senator Thune, I was just looking at the list of earmark requests that you requested this year and it adds up to over a hundred million dollars," said another reporter, asking the South Dakota Republican -- who has been talked about as a Presidential hopeful -- if he would strike those earmarks.

"I support those projects, but I don't support this bill," Thune answered.

Time for another question.

"Going through this bill, there is earmark after earmark from the both of you, millions of dollars in earmarks," asked another scribe with a jab.

"Why do you have any credibility on this?"

"Because we're going to vote against the bill," answered Cornyn.

"It appears like you're saying one thing and doing another," another reporter pressed.

"Not at all," said Cornyn, as Thune also stepped in to defend their stance on the Omnibus.

"We've got to leave it there -- we've got to get going," a GOP aide said, trying to end the press conference and quickly get the Senators out the door.

"Were you wrong when you put these earmarks in?" asked one reporter, ignoring the staffer.

"You're missing the story if you think it's just about earmarks," Cornyn protested, trying to turn the focus back to Democratic leaders bringing this huge bill to the floor with little time for review.

"Thank you guys. Thank you very much," the same staffer quickly interjected as Cornyn finished his answer, trying again to end the news conference.

"Is that an acknowledgment that it was wrong to put the earmarks in in the first place?" a reporter asked.

"You've asked the question about five times and I've tried to answer it to the best of my ability," said a somewhat irked Cornyn, who then zipped out the door.

Why would Thune and Cornyn request a whole bunch of earmarks (71, to be exact), then announce they're going to vote against the bill? Because it's a sure bet to pass, even without their votes. This is called "having your pork and eating it too -- with a big side of grandstanding."